Farmers to get bank credit upto Rs 1 lakh

Underscoring the significance of agriculture in socio-economic emancification of the society, the Minister for Finance and Ladakh Affairs, Abdul Rahim Rather today said that agriculture in the state has been made almost tax free sector. 

Speaking at a function organized by the Jammu and Kashmir State Advisory Board for Development of Kissans at Vikas Bhawan, Jammu to extend gratitude to Mr. Rather for presenting a farmer-friendly budget for the 2nd consecutive year, the Minister said that soups worth Rs. 20 crore in the form of VAT and Service Tax exemption on various agriculture inputs and implements have been extended to the farm sector to make agriculture a viable, lucrative and profitable commercial activity.  Jan 2012 News Jammu

  

Vice Chairman, JK State Advisory Board for Development of Kissan, Th. Rashpal Singh, Legislator, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, Economic Advisor to the Government, J. A. Khan, Principal Secretary, Finance, M. I. Khandy, DG Accounts and Treasuries, Wali Mohammad Bhat, Commercial Sales Taxes, Gazanfar Hussain, Excise Commissioner, Director Finance, Resham Kashap, Progressive farmers, D. P. Khajuria, Dev Raj Choudhary, Tejander Singh Wazir were present on the occasion. 

Mr. Rather said that the government has taken a conscious decision to make agriculture sector tax free in a bid to increase its contribution in the overall GSDP, which at present is comparatively not upto the mark. He said after exemption of toll tax on agriculture inputs and implements, now VAT has also been exempted in current year's budget. 

"Banks have been directed to improve credit deposit ratio viz agriculture and allied sectors", Mr. Rather said adding that small and marginal farmers having Kissan Credit Cards (KCC) can now avail loan facility upto Rs. One lakh without any mortgagee. He said there was urgent need to ensure huge investments in agriculture, which is core sector of rural economy, adding that new marketing channels in the shape of modern mandies in the potential areas of the State as well as outside the State are being established so that farmers get better remuneration of their produce without exploitation of middlemen. 

Mr. Rather said ensuring availability of quality fertilizers and seeds in time to the farmers is top priority, adding that an ambitious Seed Replacement Programme has been launched to meet the 25% national bench mark as against about 12% in the state, which, he said, would ensure increase in the agriculture production and productivity Honeymoon Destinations. 

Speaking on the occasion, the progressive farmers demanded incentives and subsidies for popularizing green house technology including shade net houses, market support for Basmati Rice, desilitation of kanals mechanically, availability of imported semen for dairy development, establishment of Span Development Laboratory Mushroom cultivation. 

Kissan Mela cum exhibition held

Under "Support to State Extension programmes for Extension Reforms (ATMA) Scheme" one day Kissan Mela cum exhibition programme was organized at Village Kangwala, Zone Rehiyan of block Samba today with the active participation of Agriculture and other allied departments, besides keen participation of more than 1000 farmers.

The Kissan Mela was inaugurated by Yash Pal Kundal, MLA Samba in the presence of guest of honour Swarn Lata, Vice Chairman J&K State Board for the Welfare and Development of SC and attended by Mubarak Singh District Development Commissioner, Samba, Nirmal Kumari Sethi ADDC Samba, Sant Ram CPO-Samba, besides participation of officers of the Agriculture and allied departments.

Various stalls highlighting the new technologies and achievements in the field of Apiculture, Mushroom Development, Seed Testing, Seed Analysis, Agriculture Engineering, Agriculture Machinery, Irrigation/Spray Pumps, Horticulture Sector, Sericulture Sector, Animal and Sheep Husbandry were showcased and highlighted in the well laid out stalls. Live crop and fruit samples brought by the farmers were the center of attraction of the Mela. On site Soil Testing facility was provided by Mobile Soil Testing Van, which analyzed Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potash on the spot from soil samples brought by the farmers.

Mr. Kundal, appreciated the work of different agencies carrying out the noble work for the development of farming community and stressed for organizing more of farmer friendly programmes so as to apprise the farmers of new technologies and innovations. He also discussed the problems faced by the farmers particularly regarding the non availability of fertilizer during the cropping season and the initiatives proposed. Mr. Singh, DDC, congratulated the Agriculture Department for organizing Kissan Mela, laid stress on intensive extension and asked the farmers to avail the benefits of ongoing various schemes and to adopt diversification approach so as to increase farm income and mitigate the misery.

Chief Agriculture Officer Samba A.K Malhotra while welcoming the guests, apprised the gathering about concentrated efforts of department of Agriculture.

During the event, Subsidy and prize distribution was held by Mr. Kundal and Swarn Lata distributed cheques worth ` 2.65 lakh among the beneficiaries of Samba district under various Centrally sponsored schemes and 175 prizes for the live samples displayed by farmers were distributed and 4 Kissan Credit Cards were issued on the spot by the JK Grameen Bank, branch Pungdor during one day Kissan Mela.

Others who were present include K.S.Sambyal District Agriculture Officer, Karanjit Singh Sub-Divisional Agriculture Officer Samba.

Another successful effort of SKUAST

SKUAST Jammu under the leadership of Vice Chancellor, Dr B Mishra after glaring success of increasing production of rain fed farmers at Badodi village has made another successful effort in bringing of 10 ha rainfed and dry area of Nai Akhnoor in a production mode.

According to a SKUAST release for the first time 10 farmers of village Nai Basti and Akhnoor have been brought in "Joint Liability Group’’ where in their total 10 ha pooled land has been designed for drip and sprinkler irrigation under the ICAR project entitled Technology Refinement in Micro Irrigation and Fertigation for improving the quality and productivity of important crops in rainfed areas of Jammu.

The project is run under the supervision of Dr Dileep Kachroo, Principal Investigator and Chief Scientist, Farming System Research Centre, SKUAST, Jammu.

The Horticulture Department has already established bore well and Dr Kachroo with the help of Director Horticulture, Jammu has identified these farmers under "Farmer-Scientist Research Mode’’. The land brought under mango orchard has been properly designed and put under drip irrigation whereas the in- between plantation land has been intercropped with various vegetables and wheat /mustard cultivation.

The farmers are happy over the new experiment which has brought cheerfulness on their faces.

Snowfall in Kashmir good for agriculture

Farmers in Jammu and Kashmir have expressed their joy over the moderate to heavy snowfall in the valley, saying it will provide the required impetus to agriculture in the state.

The valley already has limited water resources for agricultural activities, and most of the time the channels

remain dry.

But with the advent of winter and the snowfall, water bodies in the state would soon replenish providing

much needed boost to agriculture.

"The people who live on the plain areas depend upon agriculture. The snowfall in winters helps us in the months of March and April as the snow melts and the water from the snow helps us to water the fields. We specially depend upon this," said Bashir Ahmed, a farmer.

Agriculture in Kashmir Valley is a major source of income for residents and most of the population depends on this sector.

The residents said that they are optimistic that there would be more rainfall in the valley.

Farmers awareness camp organized

The Agriculture department today organized a public awareness camp in Bhagwah area of Bhaderwah whereat AEO along with JAEOs and other subordinate staff apprised the farming community about various schemes and programmes being implemented by the department.

Newly elected Sarpanchs and Panchs Lower Bhagwah, Manjmi and Mainchar of Panchayat and the general public participated in the awareness programme. The AEO apprised the farmers about various centrally sponsored schemes like KCC, National Agriculture Insurance Scheme, AIMA and Technology Mission. The farmers were advised to fill far for KCC scheme , besides making them aware about soil testing facilities available in Doda.

The demands raised by the farmers like ensuring timely availability of seeds, fertilizers and compensation for the crop loss due to prolonged dry spell were noted to be brought to the notice of higher authorities.

The farmers expressed their satisfaction over the awareness programme and hope that such meetings will be held in future also.